Hyannis biz ready to rise from ashes

Like the mythical phoenix that arises from a burned nest, the Iron House stove and grill store at 95 Corporation Road, Hyannis, destroyed by a four-alarm blaze on the cold, misty early morning of Jan. 15, will rise again.

WOODEN IRON HOUSE – Steve Bobola of Mass Building systems displays rendering of proposed new Iron House stove and grill store to replace building demolished by fire last January at 95 Corporation Road, Hyannis. This building will be adjacent to a new car wash being constructed by nearby Ford dealership.

Iron House presents building plans

Like the mythical phoenix that arises from a burned nest, the Iron House stove and grill store at 95 Corporation Road, Hyannis, destroyed by a four-alarm blaze on the cold, misty early morning of Jan. 15, will rise again.

Plans for a new building with the same footprint enhanced by the addition of a full cellar and second floor, were presented to Barnstable Site Plan Review last week, but this time with the addition of a sprinkler system and other assorted improvements. An electrical problem was blamed for the fire.

It is the second rebuilding construction project in that area to go before site plan review in several weeks. A few weeks ago, the Ford Motor dealership announced plans to raze the car wash at Route 28 and Bearse’s Way and build a new one on a back-lot site next to U-Haul and stretching from Bearse’s Way to Corporation Road, adjacent to the Iron House.

The Ford dealership and Iron House have been forewarned by site plan review the town design for repairing Corporation Road, which runs between the Ford dealership showroom and a parking area, is under way. Repairs are expected next year. Both companies would have to complete any roadwork before then because a newly paved town street cannot be disturbed for five years.

Since the fire, Iron House owners John Webb and his family have continued to operate the business from several sheds at the same location. ”We never went out of business. We converted two sheds we had into showrooms and brought in a large trailer for storage. I mean, it was limited, but we never stopped,” said Webb, the family patriarch.

The site panel went through a checklist with Webb and designer Stephen Hass, requiring that changes be made to the parking configuration to avoid cars backing out onto Corporation Way.

Lt. Don Chase of the Hyannis Fire District also requested clarification on the company’s intent for chimneys from model operating stoves in the showroom. Webb said masonry had been discussed but was too expensive, noting they would use metal exhaust through walls, not the roof.

The review panel wanted to know Webb’s plan for the second floor and was told it would be used as office space, perhaps a rented space for another company. Building Commissioner Tom Perry said that could present a problem with the parking configuration. “But we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it,” he said. “I just want to make sure you are aware.”

Other checklist items, such as containing all run-off water on the premises and narrowing two gates to 24 feet each, can be taken care of administratively, Perry said, meaning the applicant can handle these things with the proper authorities, negating another appearance before site plan review.